My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

cake box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding

is so

‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into the cake for

her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday.

to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss

the ‘Happy Birthday’

close her eyes

blow out

shook her head to indicate to Julian that there

Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing effect on any

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

to say it in your heart and not out loud, or

her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with

gazes of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out

thank you!” their parents instructed,

off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and

of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the

continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood.

me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that

“Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately, so make sure to keep warm

she turned and headed

her apartment and about to close the

loud slam, the door was propped

saw Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the

he out on

explaining himself, he slid sideways into the house and

been getting along fine without

two steps back. Why are you

resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off

unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your

step he approached her, forcing her

had no idea what

he caught hold of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him and was dragged all the way to